Snapbacks and Handshakes: The 2017 Draft (Raps pick #23)

[CoachJReturns]

Do whatever it takes to trade up and get him! I'm telling you he will be better than every player that is currently on our team within 3 years. Derozan will decline once he starts losing his athletic ability. I'm sorry he will and his game will fall off big time because of it. Everyone gets less free throw attempts as they get older, won't be able to beat his man off the dribble. Once this happens DD will be a very flawed player. Lowry is already declining and Ibaka has been declining for years.

"Lowry is already declining"

>puts up the best season of his career in 2016-2017

Best season playing only 60 games and miss playoff games yaaaaa

Touche. It's probably most accurate to say his skill is at an all time high, but his body is continuing it's slow decline. Of course, it could always turn into a rapid decline, but since Masai will stick with this core regardless of what happens, we can only hope it's a slow one.

And I'm all in favor of a blow up, as I have been for a while, but it's never going to happen. Masai seems to have reached a delusional point where he thinks the same core, including the same head coach, will all suddenly become different players leading a "high octane" offense and doing everything the same will somehow constitute a "culture reset". Basically, he's either full of **** right now, or he's a little out of touch with reality. That may sound harsh, but expecting a change while keeping everything the same makes zero sense. At least his trade skills never decline.

[CoachJReturns]

Upcoming workout schedule at Bio Steel Center:

May 30th
June 5th, 6th, 7th.

I haven't found any details on who they're brining in, so we'll have to wait. I'm hoping they look at anyone they like, regardless of position.

[Kevin Willis]

Watch on YouTube

He's 19, 6'8". Athletic with range. Has some vision. He was an All-team at an U championship. Can shoot the 3 and has handle. Decent defender. Stashable. Our roster is kind of full so that's an interesting option.

I liked Zipser last year and he was serviceable in Chicago. This kid will be much better.

http://fansided.com/2017/05/12/rodions-kurucs-barcelona-spain-nba-2017-draft/

https://loscrossovers.com/2017/03/28/nba-prospect-watch-rodions-kurucs-barcelona/

[DG88]

Upcoming workout schedule at Bio Steel Center:

May 30th
June 5th, 6th, 7th.

I haven't found any details on who they're brining in, so we'll have to wait. I'm hoping they look at anyone they like, regardless of position.

They usually bring guys that they like for the main team, 905 and also summer league.

[DG88]

Watch on YouTube

He's 19, 6'8". Athletic with range. Has some vision. He was an All-team at an U championship. Can shoot the 3 and has handle. Decent defender. Stashable. Our roster is kind of full so that's an interesting option.

I liked Zipser last year and he was serviceable in Chicago. This kid will be much better.

He's got the shooting, quickness and explosiveness for a SF. He needs to fill out and can he defend?

[raptor jesus]

I'm having a hard time understanding why he's not even mocked as a 2nd rounder on most sites.

Per 40: 26pts, 7rbs, 3.5ast, 7fta
Shooting: 38% from 3, 91% from the line, 58% TS

I see something in between Anthony Morrow and Khris Middleton. Not just a shooter, also possesses the ability to create for others as a pick and roll ball handler.

Lots of good passing here:

Watch on YouTube

Damn if Casey and Masai are serious about this new 3-ball offense then we absolutely have to buy a 2nd rounder to pick him. OR best case he goes undrafted and he make sure our team through training camp. This is the type of players we need.
No idea why he's not mocked tho...

Jok is 23...that is likely why.

So was Delon, Wes Johnson; Taj Gibson was 24. And Jok's game - shooting and playmaking - is more en vogue. Guess we'll have to wait for the draft to see if he really does go undrafted.

[Rapsfan07]

I'm surprised Josh Hart hasn't been mentioned much here. I really feel like he could be the steal of the draft

[PhilBlackson]

I'm surprised Josh Hart hasn't been mentioned much here. I really feel like he could be the steal of the draft

Doubt it.

He's an unathletic combo guard that isn't elite at any particular skill. I'm not saying he won't be a decent rotation player but I doubt he's going to be much more than that not to mention the plethora of upside in this draft from multiple other picks.

[PhilBlackson]

I will condition this board to want Dennis smith JR. MU will feel i in his veins and pull the trigger

btw I wouldn't mind Frank either. I think he's a great first year tank piece

Lol i think everyone here would be jumping for joy if they were there at 23...but they wont so what's the point of ur post?

My list currently

Bolden
Semi
Dj
Hart (actually a brogdan clone..a real 3 + D player with so many intangibles who needs to be discussed here more)

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Josh-Hart-7149/

Big east player of the year and defensive player of the year..hits 2 3s a game on 40%

Do whatever it takes to trade up and get him! I'm telling you he will be better than every player that is currently on our team within 3 years. Derozan will decline once he starts losing his athletic ability. I'm sorry he will and his game will fall off big time because of it. Everyone gets less free throw attempts as they get older, won't be able to beat his man off the dribble. Once this happens DD will be a very flawed player. Lowry is already declining and Ibaka has been declining for years.

Right or wrong (I believe wrong), Masai has already publicly stated his full intention to re-sign Lowry.

Seriously let it go already, no problem in you stating how much you like a certain player (DS of course) but it's annoying as hell that you keep repeating a trade scenario that is obviously not happening.

[Psubs]

Damn if Casey and Masai are serious about this new 3-ball offense then we absolutely have to buy a 2nd rounder to pick him. OR best case he goes undrafted and he make sure our team through training camp. This is the type of players we need.
No idea why he's not mocked tho...

Jok is 23...that is likely why.

So was Delon, Wes Johnson; Taj Gibson was 24. And Jok's game - shooting and playmaking - is more en vogue. Guess we'll have to wait for the draft to see if he really does go undrafted.

Watch on YouTube

I really like the 90% FT shooting. He seems like Kyle Korver.

[ill-Will03]

I'm having a hard time understanding why he's not even mocked as a 2nd rounder on most sites.

Per 40: 26pts, 7rbs, 3.5ast, 7fta
Shooting: 38% from 3, 91% from the line, 58% TS

I see something in between Anthony Morrow and Khris Middleton. Not just a shooter, also possesses the ability to create for others as a pick and roll ball handler.

Lots of good passing here:

Watch on YouTube

Damn if Casey and Masai are serious about this new 3-ball offense then we absolutely have to buy a 2nd rounder to pick him. OR best case he goes undrafted and he make sure our team through training camp. This is the type of players we need.
No idea why he's not mocked tho...

I wouldn't my breath on it..our scouting staff is a**

I think this is the best scouting staff we've had in our history tbh. I still believe in Masai

[Tortiglioni]

I think this is the best scouting staff we've had in our history tbh. I still believe in Masai

Based on what, exactly? The drafting has been mediocre at best, and Masai's one big FA signing was one of the worst in Franchise history.

[Kevin Willis]

Watch on YouTube

He's 19, 6'8". Athletic with range. Has some vision. He was an All-team at an U championship. Can shoot the 3 and has handle. Decent defender. Stashable. Our roster is kind of full so that's an interesting option.

I liked Zipser last year and he was serviceable in Chicago. This kid will be much better.

He's got the shooting, quickness and explosiveness for a SF. He needs to fill out and can he defend?

He's a decent defender for 19 year old. Confident kid too.

[Mikistan]

I think this is the best scouting staff we've had in our history tbh. I still believe in Masai

Based on what, exactly? The drafting has been mediocre at best, and Masai's one big FA signing was one of the worst in Franchise history.

Watson doesn't care about your emotions, these picks were quantitatively solid :p

[HeadtopChunes]

I think this is the best scouting staff we've had in our history tbh. I still believe in Masai

Based on what, exactly? The drafting has been mediocre at best, and Masai's one big FA signing was one of the worst in Franchise history.

Masais "mediocre drafting" has been better than the last 15 years of drafting lol. How many busts and duds have the Raptors drafted before Masai ? 4 rotation players is very good drafting. Especially for when we pick.

Not necessarily aimed at you but sometimes I can't tell if this board is for Raptors fans or Raptors haters.

[HeadtopChunes]

Read on Twitter

[Yeezus_]

"Lowry is already declining"

>puts up the best season of his career in 2016-2017

Best season playing only 60 games and miss playoff games yaaaaa

Touche. It's probably most accurate to say his skill is at an all time high, but his body is continuing it's slow decline. Of course, it could always turn into a rapid decline, but since Masai will stick with this core regardless of what happens, we can only hope it's a slow one.

And I'm all in favor of a blow up, as I have been for a while, but it's never going to happen. Masai seems to have reached a delusional point where he thinks the same core, including the same head coach, will all suddenly become different players leading a "high octane" offense and doing everything the same will somehow constitute a "culture reset". Basically, he's either full of **** right now, or he's a little out of touch with reality. That may sound harsh, but expecting a change while keeping everything the same makes zero sense. At least his trade skills never decline.

If you both think those injuries are a result of him declining then lets not continue this conversation. Just keep ignoring context to fit your narrtives.

[ill-Will03]

I think this is the best scouting staff we've had in our history tbh. I still believe in Masai

Based on what, exactly? The drafting has been mediocre at best, and Masai's one big FA signing was one of the worst in Franchise history.

I'm not saying all of Masai's picks we're home runs but he hasn't drafted any complete busts like we got accustom to (aside from maybe Bruno). Its really more telling how terrible our drafting has been in the past. Plus Masai scored on a 2nd round pick and I can't even remember the last 2nd rounder we drafted that played for longer thanthan their rookie contract.

[PhilBlackson]

I think this is the best scouting staff we've had in our history tbh. I still believe in Masai

Based on what, exactly? The drafting has been mediocre at best, and Masai's one big FA signing was one of the worst in Franchise history.

Masais "mediocre drafting" has been better than the last 15 years of drafting lol. How many busts and duds have the Raptors drafted before Masai ? 4 rotation players is very good drafting. Especially for when we pick.

I would say it's been fairly solid drafting but "very good", no.

Very good would have been catching one of Hood, Jokic, Capella, Clarkson or Skal. So credit is due to Masai's drafting that for the most part he didn't draft complete busts (verdict is still unbelievable out there on Bruno) and got rotation players. But very good imo would be if we have at least one or two of those names over that same span. While Jokic and Clarkson may not have been easy to detect, Hood and Skal imo should have been fairly obvious picks. When a formerly top 10 pick falls without a bad injury history it should be a no brainer imo.

I really hope Masai stops the IBM Watson crap and starts taking some more risk again. You can't let an idiotic pick of the rawest prospect possibly ever in Bruno dissuade you from taking a chance on upside. The only thing that gives me some hope is that Masai emphasized that our franchise will need to focus strongly on development which I hope isn't just referring to existing players.

If by some chance we do make a terrible pick like Leaf or Lydon, it's the straw that finally breaks the camel's back for me because then there truly isn't any inkling of hope for this team even down the line.

[PhilBlackson]

Read on Twitter

Anything short of Jackson going top 5 and he will be a complete steal imo.

The kid is a winner through and through aside from Ball and Fultz, any team that passes on him is going to regret it a few years down the line. Jackson just plays with so much fight, competitive spirit and does almost everything on the court for his team.